15 Best Rub, Sauce, and Marinade Recipes for Grilling Season (2024)

22 Surprising Foods You Didn't Know You Could Grill

BBQ Remoulade

It's tangy, it's creamy, it's spicy, and goes with pretty much everything! Use this remoulade as a dip or a spread for your barbecue sandwiches for an extra burst of flavor.

Ultimate Multitasking Barbecue Sauce

This recipe starts with your favorite barbecue sauce, which is then punched up with some vinegar and aromatics. Use it as a marinade, glaze, or dressing for any food that typically calls for a BBQ boost.

Quick Barbecue Sauce

You know what's super impressive at a cookout? Making your own barbecue sauce! Just a handful of ingredients helps you whip up a signature sauce that will be the star of every grill night.

Southwestern Marinade

Orange juice and jalapeños give anything you marinade in this sauce a beautiful kick. Try it with everything from turkey legs to shrimp.

All-Purpose Spice Rub

This mix of spices, plus orange zest, is perfect for all types of meat! Keep it fresh all summer in a glass jar, or package it nicely to share as a host gift.

Sesame Lemon Rub

Perfect for quick-cooking pieces of fish, chicken, or pork cutlets, this sesame lemon rub brings texture and acid to any grilled meal.

Mediterranean Herb Rub

Take your grill on a journey to the Mediterranean with this rub that emphasizes bold flavors, like fennel and sage.

Chimichurri Sauce

Herbacious and fresh, chimichurri is the perfect topping for all grilled meats, especially steak or sausage. It can also dress up a plant-based grill night and add some brightness to charred eggplant or even tofu.

Garlicky Hoisin Sauce

Sweet but punchy, this dressed up hoisin sauce is best used as a baste towards the end of your grilling, or as an accoutrement with ribs, chicken wings, or other bone-in meats.

Walnut Gremolata

An all-purpose topping for any entree or side dish, this nutty herb combo is perfect for thick cuts of meat, as well as veggie dishes.

Curry Coconut Sauce

Spice up your meats or veggies with this creamy sauce that is perfect for drizzling or dipping. Serve with rice or another grain to help soak up all the sauciness and grilled bits.

Fried Herb Salsa

If you want your BBQ guests to leave talking about something, make them this easy salsa! It's crispy and flavorful in all the right ways, and is as versatile as it is delicious. Throw it on everything from grilled veggies to shrimp or steak.

Fresh Tomatillo Salsa

Nothing hits quite like a cool, fresh salsa verde on a warm summer night. You'll want to drench all of your straight-off-the-grill goodies in this sauce, plus have chips for dipping. For an easy meal, serve this with warmed tacos and a big hunk of grilled meat, like a whole chicken, bone-in fish, or ribeye.

Go-To Vinaigrette

This super quick and simple recipe makes a perfect marinade, whether you're pre-soaking for an hour or overnight. You can also use it to dress an easy green salad to serve with your grilled meal.

Red Wine Mushroom Sauce

Spoon this decadent red wine and mushroom sauce over grilled steak (filet mignon would be an especially good choice) and serve alongside potatoes. We love the woodsy aroma the rosemary provides, as well as the rich red hue (courtesy of the wine).